Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 2.djvu/113

 Cornwall about the middle of July, and usually remain there until October. But both the period of their arrival and departure, and also the course they take, are uncertain, and have varied greatly in different years. Fifty or sixty years since, they remained on the coasts till Christmas, and the fishermen were engaged in their capture five or six months, but now the season does not last more than two or three months. Some years ago, indeed, as was formerly observed, they either did not appear at all on the Cornish coast, or only for a few weeks, or even days. In former years they always appeared first on the northern coasts of Cornwall, towards the east, from whence they proceeded westward, round the Landsend, and then eastward along the southern coasts. Lately, however, they have, on some occasions, scarcely touched on the northern coasts, but have made their first appearance on the eastern parts of the south coast.

When the shoals make their appearance, the fishermen are directed to them by persons stationed on the neighbouring heights, who are called huers, from their raising a hue, and who announce the approach of the prey by the cry of heva. In a moment every man is at his post, and all is activity and eager expectation. The proper place where the nets should be cast or shot being ascertained, the boat containing the great net, or stop sean, as it is called, and which is often 300 fathoms long and 17 fathoms in depth, is rowed round the shoal, the net being at the same time thrown into the sea by two men, a work which is performed with such dexterity, that in less than four minutes the whole enormous net is shot,